EASTERN PROVINCE

NYAGATARE — As the land redistribution process progresses in eastern province, the land commission helped by residents this Wednesday endorsed over 108 residents to receive land.

The exercise was presided over by the governor Théoneste Mutsindashyaka at Umutara polytechnic recreational centre in Nyagatare Sector.

Out of 108 beneficiaries, all from Nyagatare and Rwimpasha sectors, over 70 percent were given farm land measuring more than two hectares each, while others were given farms for livestock farming.

During the exercise the prospective beneficiaries registered earlier were seconded by their fellow residents to minimise cases of dubious claimants.

One resident identified as Charles Karumbeli who had sneaked his name among the beneficiaries pleaded in vain to remain among the beneficiaries.

"Am among the so called Balalo who were evicted from Bulisa in the district of Sembabule in Uganda during the land clashes which saw many Balalo later evicted. I have a big family and when it happened the only solution was to return to my home country, that’s how I got on the list,” he pleaded.

The chairman of the land commission Major General Fred Ibingira asked the distribution team to scrap him from the list and replace his name with another person who had passed through the right procedure.

The commission was asked to give priority to among others; returnees from Tanzania, Gabiro School of Infantry evictees and those who had earlier missed land including genocide survivors and residents who settled in the area before the 1994 Genocide.

In apparent reference to dubious beneficiaries, Mutsindashyaka warned that falsification by residents in order to access land would lead to arrest by police.

"All Rwandans may not benefit from the land redistribution exercise but the province plans to create more job opportunities to cater for other residents,” he said.

The exercise would cover other parts of the province next week. Land has been a problem in the in the province largely dominated by livestock farmers; they have previously complained of lack of adequate grazing land.

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